Board making apparatus



June 1964 A. COOPER BOARD MAKING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 11, 1962 INVENTOR. ARTHUR COOPER 7M, Chiral {W ATTORNEYS June 9, 1964 Filed April 11, l9d

.IIIIH 4 A. COOPER 3,136,684

BOARD MAKING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 8

FIGS

INVENTOR.

ARTHUR COOPER ATTORNEYS June 9, 1964 A. COOPER 3,136,684

BOARD MAKING APPARATUS Filed April 11, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

ARTHUR COOPER BY T clmh W ATTORNEYS United States Patent This invention relates generally to paper making apparatus, where several layers of pulp are accumulated on a roll to a predetermined thickness and ultimately severed from the roll to form boards or the like. In

particular, the invention pertains to a new and improved type of a cut-off roll for severing the accumulated layers of pulp material, and the electronic control means for regulating and controlling the number of layers built up on the make roll and corresponding apparatus for actuating cutting mechanisms and stripping means to remove the board from the make roll.

Heretofore, in the paper industry, various methods have been used to gauge the thickness of the layers accumulated on the make roll, and for mechanically actuating a knife mechanism to sever the layers therefrom. One particular type of an automatic cut-off roll which has been used in the industry is shown and described in a Patent No. 2,396,104, issued to G. F. Kingman. However, an increasing demand for a more consistent product and accelerated roll speeds which are in the magnitude of 300 feet per minute has required the development of a roll having a suitable automatic cut-off device which may sequentially and automatically perform the necessary operations. it has been found necessary to increase the size of the boards handled by the machine which requires a more sensitive control. Furthermore with existing make rolls having internally located cutting mechanism, it is necessary to remove the roll from the board machine in order to change the knife blade. This operation requires shutting down the machine for an extensive period of time with the resultant loss in production each time it becomes necessary to sharpen or replace the knife blade. With this new and improved type of a cut-01f roll the blade may be simply and easily removed from the roll while the roll is in position on the machine. Furthermore due to the retractability of the knife operating mechanism from within the roll, a defective mechanism can be replaced with a standby unit and the roll put back into operation while repairs are being effected to the faulty unit. This eliminates the need for stocking several make rolls and solves what has heretofore been a complicated maintenance problem. Also with existing rolls having some form of an automatic cut-off, the mechanism is normally permanently attached to the interior of the roll requiring the workman to work in a restricted space to repair same.

Therefore, it is an object of this invention to provide a make roll having an' internally positioned knife and operating mechanism which is completely retractable from the roll.

It is another object of this invention to provide a make roll having cam mechanisms integral with the journals thereof, which operate radially positioned switches to perform the desired: counting and cutting operation.

It is another object of this invention to provide an automatic cut-off make roll in which the number of the layers accumulated on the make roll may be varied through electronic means.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an automatic cut-off make roll wherein the uniformity of the product may be carefully regulated by electronic control mechanisms. g

It is another object of this invention to provide an auto- Also to increase the efficiency of a board machine,

Patented June 9, 1964 matic cut-off roll which has a facility for handling and delivering large sheets of wet board which-could not be handled manually to a saw table.

7 Other and additional objects will become apparent from the ensuing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Broadly stated, one feature of this invention is to provide a make roll having an electronically controlled cutoff device located internally therein and which may be readily removed from the journals of the roll for bench repairs or adjustment. The make roll have attached thereto a series of circumferentially spaced cam members which sequentially operate a plurality of radially spaced limit switches positioned on the frame of the board machine and whichwill in turn record the number of layers accumulated on the roll by means of a suitable electronic counter and actuate knife cutting mechanisms to sever the layers from the roll.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the present invention then consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the annexed drawing and the following description setting forth in detail certain means in the carrying out of the invention, such disclosed means illustrating, however, but one of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

FIG. 1 is a view in section of the make roll embody ing the features of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a view in section of the make roll of FIG. 1 illustrating the knife blade mechanism partially removed through one end of the roll;

FIG. 3 is a view in section taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a view in section of a modified form of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a view in section taken on line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic view of aroll illustrating the cam mechanism and schematic wiring to a control panel; and,

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the piping and valves which operate through the control panel to actuate the cutting mechanism.

' FIG. 8 is an enlarged view in section of the knife attachment mechanism.

Reference is now to be had to the drawings, wherein an illustrated embodiment of a make roll made in accordance with the present invention and generally designated by reference number 10 is shown. The make roll 10 comprises essentially a cylindrical drum 12 having a longitudinally extending bore 14. The ends of the drum 12 which can be opened to provide access to the interior of the drum, have closure members 16 and 18 which are secured in counter bores 20 formed in the edges 22 of the drum 12 by means of bolt members (not shown). Extending outwardly from each of the closure members 16 and 18 are journals 24 and 26 which are adapted to be positioned in suitable bearings of a wet board machine.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 there is shown a longitudinally extending gap 28 formed through the drum 12. Secured within the bore 14 of the drum 12 are vertically extending support members 30 longitudinally spaced from each other and secured tothe inner surface 32 of the cylindrical drum 12. Positioned on the upper surface of the support members 30 is a longitudinally extending inverted U-shaped guide member 34 having a mid-line positioned substantially on a line passing through the diameter of the cylindrical drum 12. Slidably mounted on the guide member 34 is a planar member 36. Clip members 38 extend downwardly from the planar member 36 to prevent any substantial lateral movement therebetween. The planar member, 36 is secured to the guide member 34 by bolts 37 adjacent the opposite ends of both members to prevent relative movement therebetween. Mounted on the upper surface of the planar member 36 are a plurality of longitudinally spaced vertically extending pneumatic cylinders 40. Each of the cylinders is of the double acting type and has a freely movable piston (not shown) positioned therein with a piston rod 42 extending from the upper end thereof. A clevis member 44 is secured to the L-shaped member 51 by bolt member 53. The knife member 48 is removably fastened to the L-shaped member 51 by tapered locking studs 50. A backing plate member 45 is held in position by the nut of the tapered locking stud 50.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, a longitudinal knife blade 48 having a length substantially equivalent to the overall length of the drum 12 is spaced inwardly from the distal ends thereof and is positioned so that it is locked into engagement with the backing plate member 45 by means of tapered locking studs 50 which pass through the apertures 49 and the backing plate member 45 and through corresponding slots in the knife blade member 48. These studs 50 are accessible through hand holes (not shown) in the closure members 16 and 18 to permit removing the blade without removing the celvis member 44-. An L-shaped member 51 as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 8 permits the coupling of the backing plate member 45 and knife blade 48 to the clevis member 44 by means of a similar bolt member 53 which extends through both halves of the clevis member and the L-shaped member 51. Suitable piping 52 connects each of the lower ends of the cylinders 40 with a coupling supply line 54, which is in turn connected to an external rotatable joint (not shown) extending to a source of supply. Similarly, the upper ends of the cylinder are connected by suitable pip ing 56, which in turn is connected through an external rotatable joint to a supply line 58 running to the opposite end of the cylindrical drum 12.

In FIG. 2 there is illustrated the guide member 34 carrying the pneumatic cylinders 40 and the interconnecting piping, partially withdrawn from the interior bore 14 of the drum 12. This is accomplished by simply removing the bolts 37, which extend through suitable corresponding apertures in the guide member 34 and the planar member 36, unbolting the tapered locking studs 50 which secure the knife blade 48 to the backing plate member 45, and sliding the planar member 36 along the guide 34. The pipe couplings 64 and 66 are disconnected from the supply lines to facilitate removal of the knife operating mechanisms.

In FIG. 6, there is illustrated a view of the roll illustrating the cam members 68 assembled integral with the journals 24 and 26 so as to be rotatable therewith. These individual cam members are positioned so as to be angularly advanced relative to each other for a purpose to be set forth hereinafter.

In FIG. 6, there is also shown a diagrammatic sketch of the control panel 69 of the board machine with suitable wiring leading to five limit switches 70a, 70b, 70c 70d and 70e which are laterally spaced from each other and fixed to the frame so as to correspond in radial spaced relationship to the various cam members 68. Each of the limit switches 78a through We are electrically connected to the control panel 69.

In the operation of this device, the number of plies of wet board to be accumulated on the make roll 10 is present on the counting indicator 74 of the control panel 69 by means of the knob 76. This will, in fact, correspond to the number of revolutions of the make roll as transmitted by cam 68a to the limit switch 70a. Each of the limit switches is intermittently connected through relays 78 contained within the control panel to solenoids which control valves positioned in the air supply lines.

The normal sequence of operation is as follows: the rotating journals carry the cams 68 which are in circumferential spaced relation. The cams strike the switch contacts 72 of the limit switches in such a manner that cam 68a strikes the limit switch 70a at every revolution and when the desired number of revolutions has been made, the limit switches 70b, 70c, 70d and 70a are preset and energized. Accordingly, limit switch 7012 upon contact with its corresponding cam will close solenoid 82 which will release the retract pressure applied to the top of the pistons within the cylinders. This switch 70b operates through a holding relay 78 and is maintained in a closed state throughout the remainder of the sequence to permit operation of the knife blade 48. The next cam in sequence strikes the switch 700 which opens the solenoid 88 to allow air pressure to flow in supply line 54 to force the pistons upward in the pneumatic cylinders 40 carrying the knife 48 to perform the cutting operation through the gap 28 in the drum 12. Limit switch 70d is then tripped to allow solenoid 81 to open and permit the flow of air through the perforated pipe 80. This air flow is directed tangentially to the roll 10 and strikes the leading edge of the severed board and aids in the peeling off of the severed sheet and prevents the sheet from adhering to the roll and continuing its previous path around the roll. Limit switch 7% resets the counter 74 and deenergizes all the limit switches until the predetermined number of plies have accumulated on the make roll 10 as set on the counter 74 and the cycle is repeated. It can be seen by referring to FIG. 7 that an air accumulator 84 is provided in line with an air regulator 86 and the source of air supply. Since the speed of the knife during the cutting cycle is critical it has been found expedient to divorce the cutting and air jet apparatus from any of the auxiliary systems utilized in board making apparatus. In this manner a uniform air pressure is maintained in the accumulator and eliminates any possibility of a time lag when the solenoid valves allow pressure to flow to the cylinders.

A modified version of the roll member 10 is shown in FIG. 4 which is adapted for use with smaller machines in which individual cylinders could not be used as it would be extremely difficult to arrange the piping in such a confined area. This version includes essentially a drum 12' having a central bore 14' extending longitudinally therethrough with closure member 16' and 18' at either end. A longitudinally extending gap 28 is formed through the peripheral edge of the barrel 12' to allow the knife blade 48' to sever the board in a manner similar to the basic form. Flange members 17' are formed on the peripheral edges of the closure members 16 and 18 and serve to provide a snug fit with the barrel 12. Each of the closure members are secured to the end of the drum member 12' by bolts 28. Utilizing this type of construction, the individual cylinder heads of the pneumatic cylinder 40 are eliminated and a longitudinally extending head 41' defining a continuous manifold is integral with the three cylinders. The one piece head 41' has a recess 41a connecting each of the upper portions of the cylinders and further connected by supply line 58' to an air source (not shown). Similarly a base member 36 having longitudinally extending ports 37' is integral with the pneumatic cylinders 40' and connected to an air source by supply line 54'. Each of these ports 37 connects with the bottom of the individual pneumatic cylinders 40' allowing free passage of air thereto. The base member 36' is secured to the inner circumference of the drum 12 by means of bolts 38' and is adapted to be readily and simply withdrawn from the bore 14' of the drum 12. A clevis member 44' is secured to the free end of the piston rod 42 and is bifurcated to accept and retain an L-shaped member 51 by means of bolts 53'. The knife blade 48' may be removed from the cylinders 40 without removing the base member 36' from the drum 12 for sharpening purposes or the like by removing the bolts 50 which extend through the backing plate 45 and L-shaped member 51'. But if repairs are to be made to the cylinder 40, it is a simple matter to remove the bolts 38 and withdraw the entire assembly through one end of the drum 12'. With this particular type of a construction, all internal piping from the supply line to the individual cylinders is eliminated. a 1

The operation of the modified version is the same as the basic form in which switches operated by cams sequentially actuate the counters and solenoids to sever a predetermined number of layers from the make roll.

Utilizing this improved type -of wet board machine having an electronically controlled cut-off roll, a more consistent quality and size of board can be produced which can be handled more efiiciently during subsequent trimming and cutting operations. Also by providing a knife blade which can be simply and easily removed from within the roll, it eliminates the necessity of disassembling the roll from the board machine for sharpen ing or adjusting the blade.

Since certain otherobvious modifications maybe made in this machine without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained herein be interpreted in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim: 1 I r i 1. In a wet board make roll of the type having a frame mounted journalled hollow drum with a longitudinally extending slot therein, removable drum heads with hand holes therein, a knife positioned within said drum in registration with said slot, and a knife actuating mechanism having at least three cylinders with reciprocating pistons, said mechanism internally mounted within said drum and arranged to drive said knife through said slot to cut oif layers of material accumulated on said make roll, the improvement therein comprising; a longitudinally extending raised guide rail secured to the interior surface of said hollow drum; a planar surface overlying said guide rail and removably secured thereto by fasteners installed adjacent said drum heads; a plurality of clip members slidably coupling said guide rail and said planar surface and maintaining said rail and surface in overlying relationship; and said knife actuating mechanism fixed upon said planar surface and removably secured to said knife by fasteners located adjacent said drum heads whereby said knife actuating mechanism and planar surface are slidable along said guide rail for withdrawal from one end of said drum after disengagement of said fasteners and removal of one drum head.

2. The improved apparatus described in claim 1 wherein said wet board make roll includes means for electrical control of the knife actuating mechanism, said control means comprising; a plurality of cam contacts mounted on the journals of said hollow drum for rotation therewith; microswitches radially spaced from said cam contacts and fixed to the frame in position for rotational contact by said cam contacts; counting means associated with one of said microswitches for recording revolutions of drum rotation, said counting means having means for energizing the remainder of said microswitches after a predetermined number of revolutions whereby said microswitches function to operate said knife actuating mechanism.

3. In a wet board machine for accumulating plies of material, of the type having a hollow drum with a longitudinal slot therein, frame mounted journals upon which said drum is mounted for rotation, removable drum heads with hand holes therein, a knife positioned in alignment with said drum slot and drum contained actuating means engaging said knife for radially driving said knife through said slot, said actuating means including at least one actuating cylinder located at least two feet from a drum head, the improvement therein comprising; a longitudinally extending guide rail secured to the interior surface of said drum; a co-extensive longitudinally extending mounting beam disposed above and parallel to said guide rail, said beam secured to said rail by removable fasteners inserted adjacent said drum head hand holes; retaining means engaging said rail and said beam for maintaining said mounting beam in overlying sliding contact with said guide rail; said knife actuating means fixed upon said mounting beam and secured to said knife by removable fasteners positioned adjacent said drum head hand holes whereby said knife actuating means and mounting beam are slidable along said guide rail for withdrawal from one end ofsaidhollow drum after manual disengagement of said fasteners and removal of one of said drum heads; a plurality of cam contacts fixed to said revolving drum journals, said cam contacts longitudinally and circumferentially spaced from each other; alike number of electrical switches fixed to the frame and longitudinally aligned and spaced, each said switch positioned to be contacted by a cam contact-during its rotational path of travel; counting means associated with one said switch for recording the number of drum revolutions; solenoid valves associated with the remaining said switches for operating said knife actuation means whereby the' rotational sequential contact between said cam contacts and said switches energizes said solenoid valves after a predetermined drum revolution total has been achieved to actuate said knife to cut the plies of material that have accumulated on said hollow drum.

4. The improved apparatus described in claim 3 further characterized by means for directing a tangential air stream against the undersurface of said plies of accumulated material to facilitate the removal of cut material from said drum.

5. In a wet board machine for accumulating plies of material of the type having a rotatable hollow drum with a longitudinally extending slot therein, removable drum heads with apertures therein, journals on which said drum is frame mounted for rotation, means for driving said journalled drum, a knife blade positioned in said slot, actuating means engaging said knife for driving said knife through said slot to cut the accumulated plies of material, said actuating means housed within said hollow drum and including at least three spaced apart pneumatic cylinders carrying double acting pistons supplied through air lines from an external pressurized source, the improvement therein comprising; support members aflixed to the inner surface of said hollow drum and extending radially inward; a guide rail fixed to said support members and extending longitudinally within said drum; a substantially co-extensive planar mounting surface disposed above and parallel to said guide rail and removably secured thereto by fasteners positioned adjacent said drum head apertures; means for slidably clasping said planar mounting surface to said guide rail to facilitate longitudinal movement therebetween; said knife actuating means fixed to said planar mounting surface and removably secured to said knife blade by fasteners located adjacent said drum head apertures whereby upon manual removal of said fasteners and one drum said knife actuating means and planar mounting surface are slidable along said guide rail for withdrawal from the end of said hollow drum; at least four cam contacts integral with said drum journals and spaced apart longitudinally and peripherally; an equal number of microswitches fixed to said machine frame in the path of said cam contacts to facilitate wiping contact therebetween; counting means electrically connected to the first said microswitch for recording the number of drum revolutions, said counting means electrically connected to the remaining said microswitches to activate said switches after recording a predetermined number of drum revolutions; a pair of solenoid operated valves in said air lines electrically connected to said second and third microswitches which operate to cause said pneumatic knife actuating cylinders to extend and retract said knife blade; and means for resetting the cycle of operation, said means electrically connected to said fourth microswitch.

6. The improved apparatus described in claim 5 further characterized by means for directing a tangential air stream against the underside of said severed plies of material, said means including an air compressor; a longitudinal extending air director mounted adjacent the outer drum surface and opening tangentially toward the drum surface; a piping system connecting said compressor to said air director; a solenoid operated air valve in said piping system; an additional cam contact on said drum journal; and an additional microswitch on said machine frame, said microswitch electrically connected to said solenoid whereby said cam contact engages said microswitchto activate said solenoid operated valve to pass the pressurized air stream through the piping system and the air director in a direction tangential to the drum surface.

7. The improved apparatus described in claim 5 wherein at least one of said pneumatic cylinders is spaced no less than two feet from any said drum aperture.

8. In a wet board machine for accumulating plies of material, said machine of the type having a hollow drum with a longitudinal slot therein, drum heads having hand holes therein, journals upon which said drum is mounted, means for revolving said journalled drum, a knife blade positioned in alignment within said slot and actuating means engaging said knife to drive and retract it through said slot, said actuating means including at least three spaced apart actuating cylinders, the improvement therein comprising; a guide rail longitudinally positioned Within said hollow drum and fixed to the inner surface thereof; a planar mounting beam positioned co-extensive with and removably secured to said guide rail by fasteners inserted adjacent said hand holes; retaining means slidably clasping said beam to said rail to facilitate longitudinal movement therebetween; said knife actuating means aflixed to said planar mounting surface and removably secured to said knife blade by fasteners located adjacent said hand holes whereby said knife actuating means and planar mounting surface are slidable as a unit along said guide rail for withdrawal from one end of said hollow drum upon the disengagement of said fasteners accomplished through said hand holes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,549,462 DeWyk Aug. 11, 1925 2,396,104 Kingman Mar. 5, 1946 2,667,821 McArn Feb. 2, 1954 2,698,453 Garrow Jan. 4, 1955 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3 1316, 684 June 9 1964 Arthur Cooper It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below E Column 3 line 24, for "celvis" read clevis line 65 for "present" read pre=set column 6 line 53 after "drum" insert hgead Signed and sealed this 27th day of October 19640 (SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER' EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents 

8. IN A WET BOARD MACHINE FOR ACCUMULATING PLIES OF MATERIAL, SAID MACHINE OF THE TYPE HAVING A HOLLOW DRUM WITH A LONGITUDINAL SLOT THEREIN, DRUM HEADS HAVING HAND HOLES THEREIN, JOUNRANS UPON WHICH SAID DRUM IS MOUNTED, MEANS FOR REVOLVINGH SAID JOURNALED DRUM, A KNIFE BLADE POSITIONED IN ALIGNMENT WITHIN SAID SLOT AND ACTUATING MEANS ENGAGING SAID KNIFE TO DRIBE AND RETRACT IT THROUGH SAID SLOT, SAID ACTUATING MEANS INCLUDING AT LEAST THREE SPACED APART ACTUATING CYLINDERS, THE IMPROVEMENT THEREIN COMPRISING; A GUIDE RAIL LONGITUDINALLY POSITIONED WITHIN SAID HOLLOW DRUM AND FIXED TO THE INNER SURFACE THEREOF; A PLANAR MOUNTING BEAM POSITIONED CO-EXTENSIVE WITH AND REMOVABLY SECURED TO SAID GUIDE RAIL BY FASTENERS INSERTED ADJACENT SAID HAND HOLES; RETAINING MEANS SLIDABLY CLASPING SAID BEAM TO SAID RAIL TO FACILITATE LONGITUDINAL MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN; SAID KNIFE ACTUATING MEANS AFFIXED TO SAID PLANAR MOUNTING SURFACE AND REMOVABLY SECURED TO SAID KNIFE BLADE BY FASTENERS LOCATED ADJACENT SAID HAND HOLES WHEREBY SAID KNIFE ACTUATING MEANS AND PLANAR MOUNTING SURFACE ARE SLIDABLE AS A UNIT ALONG SAID GUIDE RAIL FOR WITHDRAWAL FROM ONE END OF SAID HOLLOW DRUM UPON THE DISENGAGEMENT OF SAID FASTENERS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH SAID HAND HOLES. 